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Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21422, 14 March 1935, Page 9

OTHER VIEWS

SOUTH CANTERBURY FARMERS PROTEST AGAINST MINISTER'S ACTION To consider the restrictions imposed on Messrs Borthwick's Belfast works, a well-attended meeting of producers, convened by Mr J. G. Ruddenklau, was held yesterday afternoon in the Scottish Hall, Timaru. Mr H. M. Whatman was appointed chairman.

In opening the meeting, the chairman .said that it should be understood that Messrs Borthwick had nothing whatever to do with its being called. The position was that the company concerned had set the price for meat, and that if farmers had not been so treated they would have had to accept lower prices for their fat stock. As everyone knew, farmers had had a very bad season, with dry conditions and other disadvantages, so that they were not in the position to withstand further setbacks. He understood that owing to the restrictions imposed by the authorities Messrs Borthwick's works would have to be closed for a week during the present month. Producers could ill afford any further losses at present. Farmers felt that in the past their interests had been well looked after by unrestricted competition, and in the speaker's opinion talk of a meat trust was simply a bogey held up to frighten producers. Mr Forbes Wallace (Waimate) moved: "That in the opinion of this meeting of South Canterbury producers of fat stock no adequate reason has yet been shown for the unreasonable restrictions placed upon the killing operations of Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia), Ltd., and that this meeting is satisfied that the removal of the restrictions will be in the best interests of producers and the general public, and requests the Minister for Agriculture to reconsider his decision." The motion was seconded by Mr J. Mathieson (Waimate). The Board's Action Mr J. Begg (Dunedin), a member of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board, who had stopped at Timaru while on the way to attend a meeting of tr.e board in Wellington, said that he claimed to be a representative of the whole of the Dominion and to endeavour to look after the interests of farmers, no matter what district they lived in. He could assure those present that the trouble which had resulted in Messrs Borthwick's works being closed temporarily had caused the board a good deal of concern. But he wished it to be clearly understood that the action of the Minister was by no means a "new bombshell," for similar restrictions had been imposed in New Zealand previously. The policy of the board had not, continued Mr Begg, been changed in any way. Whether the restrictions were right or wrong was another matter, and he would admit that there was a good deal to be said for both sides of the question. So far as he knew, Messrs Borthwicks were not a trust, but it was a fact that they were obtaining a big hold in the Dominion. They had killed more than 20 per cent, of the North Island stock and more than 15 per cent, of the South Island stock. He wanted the meeting fully to understand what free competition meant. If farmers were selling their stock in the Argentine or Victoria-, they would be obtaining prices very different from those operating in the Dominion.

Dealing with the closing of the works, Mr Bcgg said that Messrs

Borthwicks could have remained open for 30 days had the firm so wished, but it preferred to get everything done in 20 days. There had never been unrestricted competition in New Zealand, said Mr Begg. If there had been, the works would all be controlled by two or thr.ee companies When unrestricted competition was referred to, did it mean that those companies should be allowed to erect works all over the Dominion? Messrs Borthwicks were today killing about 30 per cent, in Canterbury, and he considered that the restrictions imposed by the Minister were not unreasonable. An Amendment Mr B. E. H. Tripp, Timaru, moved as an amendment, "That the meeting is satisfied that the board is looking after the interests of producers, and considers that the matter should be left in the hands of the board." This was seconded by Mr J. Trotter (Fairlie), who said the board did not make many mistakes and had done a great deal of good for the farmers. "What we have to guard against in New Zealand is control by one company," said Mr W. T. Ritchie, who added that he had been much impressed by Mr Begg. He held that Borthwicks were not operating economically on the prices they were giving. He asked farmers to realise what would happen if the local companies were forced to the wall. Farmers would then have to accept whatever price was offered them, he said. The steps taken by the Meat Board showed that it realised how serious the position was. He believed that local farmers could not see beyond their noses. If a slightly better price was offered they grasped at it, without looking ahead. 9n being put to the meeting, Mr Tripp's amendment was lost. The motion was then put and carried.